Donate
Donate

Gaming the Future: The Book!

Author: Allison

Supercharged liver cells for artificial liver

from the now-we-can-abuse-our-livers-with-confidence dept.
University Science News reports: "The first successful demonstration that liver cells can function at an elevated level outside the human body has been achieved…Her [UCSD Prof. Sangeeta Bhatia's] work could lead to the creation of an external artificial liver device able to effectively hold patients over until transplantation. Of the individuals dying from liver disease each year, most are on a waiting list for a new liver. A full-functioning device would also assist patients requiring another transplant due to a second liver failure, keeping them alive in between livers. Finally, according to Bhatia, 'The third application of this technology, which is the real Holy Grail, is to utilize a functional extracorporeal artificial liver to keep patients alive long enough for their liver to recover, thus avoiding an expensive and risky transplant. The liver is one of the only organs in the body that can actually regenerate itself.' " For more on this work, see the researcher's website.

Asian nanotech — a great news resource

from the worth-paying-for dept.
The Asian Technology Information Program in Tokyo has a Nanotechnology Project of great use to those attempting to track what is happening in that part of the world. Much of the material listed is available only to subscribers, but lots of useful info is free, including abstracts of all reports and at least some presentations. Serious nanotechnology organizations will want to subscribe, but much can be gleaned from the free Nano News headlines, e.g. Japan's urgent effort to catch up with the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative.

IQ genes identified in humans?

from the now-we'll-really-see-who's-so-smart dept.
Senior Associate John Gilmore of EFF brings to our attention this item from BBC News. Excerpts: "US researchers believe they have identified the parts of the human genome involved in developing a person's intelligence. This means scientists could soon test the potential intelligence of new-born babies…The researchers, working for the US National Institutes of Health, analysed the DNA of 200 of the brightest kids in America and compared them with the genetic material from ordinary children. The results are due out next year, but the BBC Newsnight programme has learned that key differences have been found. In other words, the scientists are homing in on the genes for genius…[According] to Jeremy Rifkin…'Every parent wants the best for their child,' said Rifkin. 'In the future, the parent could become an architect and each child the ultimate shopping experience.' "

National Medal of Technology to Doug Engelbart

from the he's-our-hero dept.
Credit goes to Brian Berg for spotting this San Jose Mercury News article on Foresight advisor Doug Engelbart's new honor. Excerpts: "On one hand we have instant gratification — the shiny, happy kids at bigfatjackpot.com who went from zero to seven figures of net worth in a matter of months before things cooled off. On the other hand we have delayed gratification — in the noble personage of one Douglas Engelbart. Friday at a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C., Engelbart will be one of two individuals to receive the National Medal of Technology, to be bestowed by President Clinton. The award, the nation's highest honor for technology, comes more than 30 years after he developed many of the basic tools that define today's digital world…Engelbart is more than just a great technologist. He's a humanist who sees computer-assisted communications as just a means to achieving far loftier goals. What he envisioned more than 30 years ago was comprehensive systems that would augment human decision-making. The big picture, which he continued to flesh out over the years, boiled down to this: Better tools led to better collaboration processes, which in turn led to more innovation, better decisions and better organizations. And to better chances of managing nanotechnology well, which is why Doug is an advisor to Foresight. Congrats to him!

Biped robots from Sony, Honda at Robodex 2000

from the Who-said-the-Robot-Age-is-far-in-the-future? dept.
Waldemar Perez writes "The latest developments in Robotics are truly impressive! This article found in EETimes shows some of the models presented at Robodex 2000. We are only years or months away from watching widespread robot use in entertainment and specialized tasks that are dangerous to humans. Labor unions should be worried in my opinion. Verbal command computers are not far away and robots could take over many human tasks for a fraction of the cost. Check out the Honda website for the latest Quick Time movies of the Honda prototype tightening nuts shaking hands, walking and standing."

Designed glass nanostructures from US/Japan/Korea team

from the glass-with-designed-holes dept.
Waldemar Perez brings to our attention Eurekalert news coverage of a Nature cover story: "The creation of three-dimensional 50-nanometer-size glass micropores have enormous implications for electronics and biotechnology. The new material could be used (according to scientists) to selectively package biomolecules like proteins or DNA, sense and remove biotoxins or toxic metals from the environment, and as 3-D biochemical enzyme factories." Excerpt from the Eurekalert story, which includes graphics: "The nanotechnology, the chemistry, and the processing make possible many different three-dimensional patterns, shapes and forms that can be organized at multiple-length scales in numerous ways…"

First bionic hand a success

from the early-cyborg dept.
Waldemar Perez writes "The first truly bionic hand was tested at Nottingham Hospital, UK. The development of the hand, that took more than 20 years, created the first 'self-contained' bionic hand. The unit is operated by nerve signals to the brain. The user sends a signal to the muscle where electrodes and sensors pick up the signal to execute the desired motion. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1035000/1035304.stm"

Artificial "molecular muscles" and rotary motors

from the chemists-in-hot-pursuit dept.
Foresight chairman Eric Drexler calls our attention to a review in the 9 November issue of Nature "In Control of Molecular Motion" by chemist Ben Feringa of Univ. of Groningen, The Netherlands: "Nature [he means Mother Nature, not the journal –CP] leads the way when it comes to motors on a molecular scale. But chemists are in hot pursuit, designing controllable structures that can mimic muscles or rotary motors."
Read more for excerpts, see the paper journal in your library, or buy the article online for US$10.

Science magazine special issue on nanotech

from the better-late-than-never dept.
In November 1991, Science did a special issue on nanotechnology. Here's their next one. The 24 November Science special issue on nanotechnology includes:
* Is Nanotechnology Dangerous?
* Powering the Nanoworld
* Cantilever Tales
* NanoManipulator Lets Chemists Go Mano a Mano With Molecules
* Strange Behavior at One Dimension
* Nanoelectromechanical Systems
* From Micro- to Nanofabrication with Soft Materials
* Microfabricating Conjugated Polymer Actuators
* Powering an Inorganic Nanodevice with a Biomolecular Motor
* Atom-Scale Research Gets Real
* Coaxing Molecular Devices to Build Themselves
Free login will get you an overview page on this special issue. Excerpt: "…Robert Service surveys nanotechnology's near-term prospects: the role of funding infusions, such as the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative and its European and Japanese counterparts, and the real promise of new materials and devices. He also takes a jaundiced view of some of the prophecies of boom and doom made by the field's boosters and critics. Meanwhile, amid the nanohype, researchers are forging ahead on several exciting fronts."

Molecular motor fueled by ATP made at Cornell

from the let's-put-these-machines-to-work dept.
About the 24 November Science special issue on nanotechnology [some parts accessible with free login], Foresight's Tanya Jones writes "Check out the article on Carlo Montemagno's efforts to build a molecular motor at http://partners.nytimes.com/2000/11/25/science/25NANO.html" Excerpts: "Writing in Friday's issue of the journal Science, scientists at Cornell University report that they hooked up a tiny motor to a metal propeller and spun the propeller around at up to eight revolutions a second. 'This is the first true nano machine,' said Dr. Carlo D. Montemagno, professor of biological engineering at Cornell and senior author of the Science paper…Since the motor draws its energy from the same organic molecules that power living cells, Dr. Montemagno suggests that scientists may one day be able to build robots much smaller than bacteria that will be able to repair cellular damage, manufacture medicines and attack cancer cells. 'This opens the door to make machines that live inside the cell,' Dr. Montemagno said. 'It allows us to merge engineered devices into living systems…We're going to have the device self-assemble inside the human cell,' he said. "That's what we're working on now.' " CP: You can download a video clip.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Podcast Spotify
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    Continue Shopping

      Search Foresight Institute